In the Spotlight: Driving Intercultural Changes Through Technology

Talent development and intercultural training are critical to global business strategies. In today’s digital business environment, the need for innovation solutions that ensure employees have cultural competencies in a global environment is growing. Jennifer Rowe, Manager, Talent Development & Intercultural, shares her insights on the evolution of intercultural training.

How is technology progressing solutions that build cultural competencies?

Jennifer Rowe: Ensuring employees possess the intercultural competencies to execute an organization’s global business strategies is key in today’s marketplace. To this end, talent development solutions continue to evolve as the needs of our clients change. Global mobility no longer is made up of only long-term international assignments, they now include short-term, flex, developmental, rotational assignments, etc. These more flexible policies are driving a change to training offerings to include more technology-driven, shorter and even self-service solutions, which has allowed us to support our clients’ needs as they evolve. While a bespoke approach is still critical, it can be enhanced by new delivery methodologies and technical solutions to support content sharing.

Given this trend, how do you see technology-driven methods of learning working within an already established intercultural training framework?

Jennifer: BGRS’s intercultural training framework is structured to allow for flexibility based on participants’ needs and learning styles, ensuring they gain the necessary intercultural competencies to succeed. BGRS is using technology to enhance the training experience because program participants are digitally savvy, and oftentimes are digital natives.

To meet the needs of our clients and program participants, we incorporate technology throughout the training or coaching through online assessments, web-based resources, interactive online content, multimedia options in the training room and digital learning reinforcement. In addition, we have adapted our classroom-based training programs to be delivered virtually for locations where face-to-face training can be difficult.

How can interactive intercultural technology heighten employee engagement while preparing for and during assignment?

Jennifer: Technology can enhance the training and coaching experience but also support learning reinforcement. BGRS has integrated Mindmarker, a digital learning reinforcement program, into our talent development suite of services. Using the Mindmarker app, learners receive a series of messages over time designed to reinforce learning gained through the training and coaching sessions and help them apply their new awareness, knowledge and skills on the job.

Reinforcement is via push and pull communication moments strategically designed, delivered and timed to drive business impact and lasting behavior change. Interactive messages are crafted and sent in a variety of mediums such as text, video, audio, links to resources and documents, and include scoring, leader board and gaming to drive user engagement.